Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.

Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator that exerts several effects in the brain as well as in peripheral tissues. These effects are mediated mainly by two types of cannabinoid receptors, named CB(1)R and CB(2)R, making AEA a prominent member of the "endocannabinoid" family. Also...

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Main Authors: Maria Teresa Cencioni, Valerio Chiurchiù, Giuseppina Catanzaro, Giovanna Borsellino, Giorgio Bernardi, Luca Battistini, Mauro Maccarrone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2809084?pdf=render
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author Maria Teresa Cencioni
Valerio Chiurchiù
Giuseppina Catanzaro
Giovanna Borsellino
Giorgio Bernardi
Luca Battistini
Mauro Maccarrone
author_facet Maria Teresa Cencioni
Valerio Chiurchiù
Giuseppina Catanzaro
Giovanna Borsellino
Giorgio Bernardi
Luca Battistini
Mauro Maccarrone
author_sort Maria Teresa Cencioni
collection DOAJ
description Anandamide (AEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator that exerts several effects in the brain as well as in peripheral tissues. These effects are mediated mainly by two types of cannabinoid receptors, named CB(1)R and CB(2)R, making AEA a prominent member of the "endocannabinoid" family. Also immune cells express CB(1) and CB(2) receptors, and possess the whole machinery responsible for endocannabinoid metabolism. Not surprisingly, evidence has been accumulated showing manifold roles of endocannabinoids in the modulation of the immune system. However, details of such a modulation have not yet been disclosed in primary human T-cells.In this investigation we used flow cytometry and ELISA tests, in order to show that AEA suppresses proliferation and release of cytokines like IL-2, TNF-alpha and INF-gamma from activated human peripheral T-lymphocytes. However, AEA did not exert any cytotoxic effect on T-cells. The immunosuppression induced by AEA was mainly dependent on CB(2)R, since it could be mimicked by the CB(2)R selective agonist JWH-015, and could be blocked by the specific CB(2)R antagonist SR144528. Instead the selective CB(1)R agonist ACEA, or the selective CB(1)R antagonist SR141716, were ineffective. Furthermore, we demonstrated an unprecedented immunosuppressive effect of AEA on IL-17 production, a typical cytokine that is released from the unique CD4+ T-cell subset T-helper 17.Overall, our study investigates for the first time the effects of the endocannabinoid AEA on primary human T-lymphocytes, demonstrating that it is a powerful modulator of immune cell functions. In particular, not only we clarify that CB(2)R mediates the immunosuppressive activity of AEA, but we are the first to describe such an immunosuppressive effect on the newly identified Th-17 cells. These findings might be of crucial importance for the rational design of new endocannabinoid-based immunotherapeutic approaches.
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spelling doaj.art-e72c31f6a81b493ca2499137729e9e662022-12-22T03:34:32ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032010-01-0151e868810.1371/journal.pone.0008688Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.Maria Teresa CencioniValerio ChiurchiùGiuseppina CatanzaroGiovanna BorsellinoGiorgio BernardiLuca BattistiniMauro MaccarroneAnandamide (AEA) is an endogenous lipid mediator that exerts several effects in the brain as well as in peripheral tissues. These effects are mediated mainly by two types of cannabinoid receptors, named CB(1)R and CB(2)R, making AEA a prominent member of the "endocannabinoid" family. Also immune cells express CB(1) and CB(2) receptors, and possess the whole machinery responsible for endocannabinoid metabolism. Not surprisingly, evidence has been accumulated showing manifold roles of endocannabinoids in the modulation of the immune system. However, details of such a modulation have not yet been disclosed in primary human T-cells.In this investigation we used flow cytometry and ELISA tests, in order to show that AEA suppresses proliferation and release of cytokines like IL-2, TNF-alpha and INF-gamma from activated human peripheral T-lymphocytes. However, AEA did not exert any cytotoxic effect on T-cells. The immunosuppression induced by AEA was mainly dependent on CB(2)R, since it could be mimicked by the CB(2)R selective agonist JWH-015, and could be blocked by the specific CB(2)R antagonist SR144528. Instead the selective CB(1)R agonist ACEA, or the selective CB(1)R antagonist SR141716, were ineffective. Furthermore, we demonstrated an unprecedented immunosuppressive effect of AEA on IL-17 production, a typical cytokine that is released from the unique CD4+ T-cell subset T-helper 17.Overall, our study investigates for the first time the effects of the endocannabinoid AEA on primary human T-lymphocytes, demonstrating that it is a powerful modulator of immune cell functions. In particular, not only we clarify that CB(2)R mediates the immunosuppressive activity of AEA, but we are the first to describe such an immunosuppressive effect on the newly identified Th-17 cells. These findings might be of crucial importance for the rational design of new endocannabinoid-based immunotherapeutic approaches.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2809084?pdf=render
spellingShingle Maria Teresa Cencioni
Valerio Chiurchiù
Giuseppina Catanzaro
Giovanna Borsellino
Giorgio Bernardi
Luca Battistini
Mauro Maccarrone
Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
PLoS ONE
title Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
title_full Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
title_fullStr Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
title_full_unstemmed Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
title_short Anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human T-lymphocytes mainly via CB2 receptors.
title_sort anandamide suppresses proliferation and cytokine release from primary human t lymphocytes mainly via cb2 receptors
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2809084?pdf=render
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